Press Release: Gov. Maura Healey Joins Conservation Advocates to Rally for “YES on 6” Campaign

For Immediate Release

August 30, 2026

Contact: Andrew Farnitano, 925-917-1354, andrew@acfstrategies.com

Gov. Maura Healey Joins Conservation Advocates to Rally for “YES on 6” Campaign

Governor Healey Joins 90+ Environmental Organizations & Businesses Backing Ballot Question 6 to Dedicate Funding for Water and Land Conservation in Massachusetts — Without Raising Taxes

Newton, Mass. — Governor Maura Healey joined clean water and land conservation advocates from across Massachusetts at Hammond Pond in Newton on Sunday morning to rally in support of the “YES on 6” ballot campaign. Question 6, the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative on the November statewide ballot, would create a new Nature for All Fund and dedicate funds from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to protecting and conserving water and nature — without raising taxes.

“Everyone in Massachusetts deserves clean water to drink, clean air to breathe, and the opportunity to appreciate just how beautiful our state is,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The generations to come are counting on us to protect that, and so are our family farms, our natural parks, and our forests and wildlife. By establishing the Nature for All Fund, we can secure a cleaner future for Massachusetts.”

Standing on the edge of Hammond Pond, leaders of some of the state’s top environmental and conservation organizations spoke about how Question 6 would protect clean drinking water; reduce pollution in rivers, lakes, and the ocean; conserve forests, family farms, and natural wildlife habitats; prevent flooding and storm damage; and create and improve parks, trails, and greenspaces for public use.

“We are incredibly grateful for Governor Healey’s endorsement of Question 6, a game-changing initiative to protect clean water and nature that all of us and future generations depend on,” said David O’Neill, President & CEO of Mass Audubon. “Protecting drinking water and the nature of our Commonwealth is not a luxury—it is an immediate need, and one of the smartest investments Massachusetts can make for its future. We’re thrilled to stand with Governor Healey and this extraordinary coalition to rally for nature and the outdoors.”

“We are grateful for Governor Healey's endorsement of the Yes on 6 campaign and celebrate the partnership we’ve built to protect nature, water and outdoor access here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Katie Theoharides, President and CEO of The Trustees. “While the federal government is putting our public lands and critical habitat at risk, in Massachusetts we are working together to protect water, land, wildlife, and the recreation opportunities that make our state a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.”

“An investment in nature is an investment in preventing flooding, protecting clean drinking water, and improving everyone’s health,” said Rishi Reddi, CLF’s Vice President for Massachusetts. “Governor Healey’s endorsement of the Yes on 6 campaign underlines how crucial this ballot initiative is for meeting Massachusetts' climate and conservation goals. Creating a Nature for All fund would ensure that EJ neighborhoods — which have historically received less than their fair share of funding — get the money they need to create livable outdoor spaces. New and improved parks, trails, and street trees will cool our communities and provide opportunities for play in the neighborhoods that need it the most.”

"We are here at the Hammond Pond Reservation, which is a state park, owned by DCR, and it abuts Webster Woods, which is owned by the City of Newton. Over the years through donations and purchases, the city and state were able to acquire these parcels, and today this 230 acres is the largest conservation area in Newton. This is an incredibly valuable space for the residents of Newton and beyond, particularly because it’s a natural oasis within a semi urban environment," said Emily Norton, Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association. "As we develop more, and build even more housing, which is much-needed and coming, it’s even more important that spaces like this are preserved forever, not only for their ecological value, but for our residents to have a place to access nature. Question 6 is a vital way to protect our forests, wetlands, biodiverse habitat, and wild spaces that protect water quality in our aquifers."

Following the speaking program, attendees received “YES on 6” lawn signs and other materials to help carry the rally’s message home to their own neighborhoods and communities.

Background

Question 6, the ‘Protect Water and Nature’ initiative, would dedicate funds from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to protecting and conserving water and nature — without raising taxes. Question 6 would create a dedicated Nature for All Fund with as much as $100 million each year to support the conservation and restoration of water and natural areas in Massachusetts, protect the quality of our drinking water and natural wildlife habitats, and support the creation and improvement of parks, trails, greenspaces, and other outdoor recreation spaces.

The Nature for All Fund would be funded by the state’s existing sales tax on sporting goods like camping gear, golf clubs, and fishing equipment — not by creating a new tax. Question 6 would also establish a public oversight board that would approve all expenditures from the fund, with strict annual reporting requirements to track every dollar spent.

Question 6 is supported by a diverse coalition of more than 90 environmental, conservation, and community organizations and businesses throughout Massachusetts, including the state’s leading nonprofit land and water conservation groups such as Mass Audubon, The Trustees, Appalachian Mountain Club, the Conservation Law Foundation, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and Trust for Public Land, as well as dozens of local groups from every corner of the state.

Over the last year, the coalition collected more than 122,000 signatures from Massachusetts voters to put nature on the ballot. Volunteers from dozens of organizations within the coalition contributed to this tremendous showing of support by collecting thousands of signatures from their neighbors at farmers’ markets, festivals, trailheads, and wildlife sanctuaries.

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The YES on 6 campaign is led by Nature for Massachusetts, a large and diverse coalition of environmental, conservation, and community organizations that seek to create a dedicated, annual revenue stream to conserve water, land, urban greenspace, outdoor recreation access, and wildlife in Massachusetts. For more information, visit natureforma.org.